DeMar DeRozan starred for the hosts as he scored 26 points in their victory which continues their run of four consecutive wins to help them remain top of the Atlantic division. They are now second favourites with Betfairfor the division behind Brooklyn Nets.

While the Indiana Pacers have been linked to players such as Mickael
Pietrus and Josh Howard this week, they do not have immediate plans to
make a roster addition, according to a source.

It was revealed
earlier this week that Danny Granger will miss three weeks because of
knee tendinosis. The Pacers are 2-3 through their first five games. They
finished last season with the third-best regular season record in the
Eastern Conference and took an early lead in their semifinal series
against the eventual champion Heat.

With Granger out, Frank
Vogel has used a combination of Gerald Green and Sam Young at small
forward. Granger, an All-Star in 2009, is owed more than $13 million
this season. Granger is expected to remain around the team while he
rehabs his knee so that the training staff can monitor his progress.

First, Larry Bird said it. Now, Danny Granger is being even more
specific about what type of move the Indiana Pacers soon could make.

Asked by FanHouse on Friday in Springfield, Mass., where Bird was
inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame along with members of the 1992
Olympic Dream Team, the Pacers president said the team needs to make
another trade before the start of the regular season. Asked by FanHouse
about Bird’s comments, Granger said management has told him to expect a
move, and he figures they will look to acquire a big man.

Maybe Jim O’Brien is trying to get himself fired. Maybe he’s gone in
the tank, just as his team has done for the past few months, and is
willing to take the cash for next season and move on back to Florida.

T.J. Ford is approaching the possibility he could be traded by the
Indiana Pacers in the next month as part of the business of the NBA.

The starting point guard earlier in the season, Ford has been benched
and hasn’t played since Dec. 30 as Pacers coach Jim O’Brien has elected
to go with Earl Watson as the starter and rookie A.J. Price as the
backup.